UK Government must involve Wales more in its Brexit negotiations

The Government’s involving of the Welsh Government in its Brexit negotiations is welcome but does not go far enough, the Open Britain campaign says today.

On a visit to Edinburgh in July, Theresa May said: “I won’t be triggering Article 50 until I think that we have a UK approach and objectives for negotiations. I think it is important that we establish that before we trigger Article 50.” However, a timetable for Article 50 was announced unilaterally by the UK Government at Conservative Party Conference.

Ahead of the summit being held at Downing Street today this pledge appears to have been watered down to merely an offer of a “direct line” between the Welsh Government and the Department for Exiting the European Union, with no concrete guarantees that their concerns will be acted upon before Article 50 is triggered.

The concerns of the Welsh Government must be taken seriously in the Brexit process, and particular Welsh concerns must be taken into account when shaping the Government’s negotiating strategy.

It is vital that the UK Government publishes its objectives and allows a parliamentary debate and vote on them before Article 50 is triggered, and that they reflect Welsh concerns.

Stephen Kinnock MP, supporter of the Open Britain campaign, said

“These negotiations will affect every part of the United Kingdom and it would be concerning if Wales and the other devolved administrations were downgraded from the role of full participant to partial consultant.

“The Government should ensure a full part for all the nations of the UK as part of an open Brexit process which should also involve bringing their negotiating principles to Parliament for debate and a vote before Article 50 is triggered.